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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Software Reliability Unit at City University, London, about computers at nuclear power plants failing to recognise the year 2000. [54682] Mr. Battle: The Government have received no such representations. I understand, however, that Professor Bev Littlewood of the Software Reliability Unit at City University, London, and a member of the Health and Safety Commission's independent expert advisory body on nuclear safety matters, the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee (NuSAC), has suggested that NuSAC consider the implications of the century date change for nuclear safety at a forthcoming meeting of the committee. This is, of course, a matter for NuSAC to consider. All UK nuclear operators have initiated major programmes of work to address the century date change problem. These programmes are being closely monitored by the UK's independent nuclear safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has made clear that it is satisfied with the actions being taken by operators. Operators anticipate that all essential work to address the problem will be completed by the end of April 1999.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

317 c1015W; 54682

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Nuclear power Nuclear power stations Millennium compliance Safety City University